[Dave Noll]

The article:

Rumor! NHRA sells three pro classes

DRO has verified as fact that Tom Compton and the NHRA board hired a financial company in the Los Angeles area more than two months ago to package and sell the top three pro classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock) to an entertainment company. The Agent has the name of the company but has been unable to contact them yet. DRO’s source said today that there is an entertainment company that has agreed to terms. We have been unable to verify that rumor as of 6 p.m. (Central) Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Selling off their top three pro classes was one of the options that was discussed when Tom Compton tried to sell the NHRA to Direct TV majordomo Eddy Hartenstein and his HD Partners group back in 2007. Our source says the deal that NHRA made was essentially the same one they had in 2007 when an attempted sale fell through at the last minute. In the original deal NHRA would sell the pro classes and as part of the sale a large chunk of the buyout money would go to the NHRA to ensure that the sportsman part of the NHRA would continue on. As we understand it that is the same type of deal the new sale would be.

The Agent always felt that selling off the NHRA top three pro classes wasn’t a viable or smart option since none of the racers in those classes works for the NHRA; they are all independent contractors who can race where and when they wish. On the other hand, maybe a professional entertainment group can sell nitro sponsorships better than the NHRA can.

Stay tuned, this one could get interesting. [02/18/15]